THE MARINE CORPS IS HISTORY
By Andy Weddington
Thursday, 08 October 2026
We learn from history that we learn nothing from history. – George Bernard Shaw
The Marine Corps is history.
For not in human history has before existed a warfighting outfit like the United States Marine Corps. Two and a half centuries of bloody - sacrificed and taken - distinguished service. Admired. Colorful. Deadly. Elite. Feared. Proud. Respected. Spit & Polish. One could go on, A to Z, practically forever with glowing descriptors culminating with humility. Yes, seriously.
Marines, come from where?
The womb, of course. My mother bore five - two of four sons Marines.
She will soon be 90.
She looks and sounds like mom. But she does not know who she is. Memory, history, her identity, is involuntarily yielding to attack. First signs we casually laughed at dismissing as harmless forgetfulness. Normal aging, our naivete. Then behavior that defied rational explanation called for intervention.
Clinical tests and medical scans confirmed an incurable, non-linear progressing, ruthless, and unstoppable eraser was wiping her mind.
Person or institution of people, memory is history. History is memory. Lose memory, lose history, lose your identity.
Couple evenings ago, came interesting text. A Marine who served during the time I was retiring opined about the article ‘Marines Die and the Corps Will Die Too’ published 02 October by Real Clear Defense.
Marine: I mean no disrespect, but it occurs to me Andy's appealing to authority citing General Barrow (long since no longer recognized except among some Marines) instead of making an actual case against coed recruit training.
Marine in group: That’s the crux of it though. Those with experience have been disregarded. General Barrow, Colonel Ripley.
That exchange consumed thought during dinner followed by a leisurely walk.
The Marine’s comment noted but analysis incomplete. There’s bigger, important perspective citing history.
Me: The Marine Corps is bipolar and suicidal. An outfit with a rich history, it is selective on what it remembers and teaches. The rah-rah stuff. But not serious stuff. Not teaching the lessons of Wilson, Barrow, Ripley, Mundy, Gray, et al., is stupid. They - particularly Barrow and Ripley - meticulously and gruesomely explained why coed does not work. That every Marine does not know of them and their lessons is criminal. History is not just important it’s vital. That ignorance is proving fatal. When a young new male Marine today departs Parris Island and says their female DI was a joke the institution is done for. Those Marines of yesteryear may be gone but their guidance is not outdated. Nor will it be. It’s been 18 years since I stopped recommending the USMC to youth - because I no longer recognized the Corps that changed my life. History is the case against coed training because wise men respected nature. Nature has not and will not change. But men (people) become dumber. To that we bear witness. For sure if this gender nonsense was going on 47 years ago, I’d have not been interested, at all, in becoming a Marine. I weep for young boys who will never know the “old school” path to manhood the Corps offered. Tragic.
Memory is history, the heart of ETHOS: Transgenerational phenomenon that’s real and enriches over time.
E – Ethics. That righteous code guiding the moral conduct of a Marine.
T – Trust. Mutual respect between, and confidence in, Marines.
H – History. Marines leave footprints for Marines, figuratively. Literally, symbolically, yellow paint pairs make a formation on the asphalt at Depot Receiving barracks. Off the bus, recruits scramble to stand atop a pair. Short-term, to organize the terrified mob. Long term? History. Life-changing memory.
O – Optimism. Marines do whatever needs to be done.
S – Study. New Marines shoulder heavy duty of knowing and preserving Corps history.
The Marine Corps is masterful exploiting ethos - that warrior spirit. Consider all that is dear to Marines and somewhat familiar to the general public … Emblem - eagle, globe, anchor; 10 November (1775) and annual Birthday Ball; Tun Tavern; Iwo Jima War Memorial; Marine Barracks 8th & I; Silent Drill Platoon; Timeless eye-catching uniforms; Gung-ho; Semper Fidelis; Marine heroes - e.g., Puller, Lejeune, Basilone, the flag raisers; et al.
When crisis strikes, even the typical civilian may bark, “Send in the Marines!”
But back to the Marine’s remark that few Marines know of General Barrow.
That was bothersome. Let’s pray drill instructors (DIs) know and are teaching recruits about General Barrow (for whom Parris Island’s headquarters building is named). He was … a recruit and DI (San Diego); a warrior in three wars; the Commanding General of Parris Island; the 27th Commandant; most importantly, a key figure saving recruit training; and more.
Modest man and Marine, during sworn testimony before Congress, eight years retired, he wondered aloud if, perhaps, he’d been rendered irrelevant. Hardly.
Mom’s mind is gone - she does not know who she is.
Is the Corps losing its mind?
Debate ongoing.
Surely, past 20 years or so of decisionmakers - civilians and Marines - have considered predecessors studied coed training and gender integrated combat units and for commonsense dismissed the ideas.
Maybe not.
So, comes to mind the 1996 film ‘Sling Blade.’
In a humorous scene, intellectually challenged Karl Childers, portrayed by the brilliant Billy Bob Thornton, teaches commonsense.
A handful of guys mill about a lawnmower. Scooter explains he practically rebuilt the engine, but it will not start. Seeing Karl approach, Scooter asks him to take a look. Karl squats, looks at the engine, unscrews the cap, and looks into the gas tank.
Karl: It ain’t got no gas in it.
One of the guys: You see there, Scooter. He thinks of the simplest things first.
Look. Think of the simplest things first. Commonsense. Defy Shaw, learn from history. But, if the decisionmakers prove to be Scooter and there’s no Karl …
The Marine Corps is history.
Posts
